Punta
Delgada is located on the southeastern ip of the Valdes Peninsula which is at the extreme
north of the region commonly known as Patagonia. Patagonia (which includes both southern
Chile and southern Argentina) starts approximately half way between the northern border of
Argentina and the southern most point, Cape Horn (Tierra del Fuego).
The Delgada coast area offers refuge to a very large breeding colony of elephant seals
during their reproduction period and their molting season.
The Elephant Seal (Mirounga
leonina) is a marine mammal that is perfectly adapted to aquatic life. On the contrary of
the sea lion and other seal species, when it is on the ground it can only creep using its
fore fins. When instead in the water an Elephant Seal will swim at high speed using the
"thrust" of its rear fins. The elephant seal does not have external ears due to
the extreme depths to which it can dive (in some cases down to over 3500 ft or 1200 mt.
although "normal" depths are 1000-1500 ft or 400-500 mt).
The Male southern elephant seal (called "bulls") are the largest seals in the
world. They grow to be as long as 20 feet (over 5 mt) and can weigh as much as 10,000 lbs
(5000 kg). Females (called "cows") are much smaller growing to about 10 feet (3
mt) in length with a maximum weight of much as 800 kg. At birth, pups of both sexes are
approximately 4 feet (1.3 mt) long and weigh about 100 lbs (45 kg) and can reach 500-600
lbs (250-300 kg) after the first month.
